Electrically-operated color-ray sign



Oct. 15, 1929. F. P. WILSON ELEGTRICALLY OPERATED COLOR RAY SIGN Filed Nov. 2, 1927 INVENTOR- FRED F W/LSO/V Elm A TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT FRED P. WILSON, OF 'IUJUNGA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR O15 ONE-THIRD T ELMER E. BOWEN AND ONE-THIRD T0 OLIN R. GOULD, BOTH OI LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ELECTRIGALLY-OPEEATED COLOR-RAY SIGN Application filed November This invention relates to improvements in advertising devices.

The general object of this invention is to provide an advertising device which may in elude an illuminated sign wherein improved means is provided for causing a plurality of various colors to play across the face of the sign.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a novel device of the class described wherein the color producing medium is mounted for rotation in such a manner as to be readily removable and interchangeable so that different color effects may be readily produced. y

A further object of this invention is to provide a sign to be used in conjunction with my improved device which is composed of an unbreakable material.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a novel mounting for a rotary illuminating device.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the'following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a frontface view of my improved advertising device.

F ig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the device.

Fig. 3 is a section through the device taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary face view of the advertising sign and Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary face view of the advertising sign showing the construction thereof.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters l have indicated my improved device generally at 10. This device preferably comprises a metal casing 11 which includes a light compartment 12 and a motor compartment 13 separated by a partition 13. One end of the light compartment 12 is provided with removable closure 14. and the rear of the motor compartment 18 is provided with a removable closure 15. These closures may be held in place in any desired manner but 2, 1927. Serial No. 230,497.

I have shown them as adapted to be retained in position by spring tongues 16 which snap over a wire 17 secured to the casing 11. i

The front wall 18 of the light chamber 12 is provided with an elongated aperture 19 which is adapted to be closed by a translucent slide 20 upon which are formed symbols 21 such as letters or pictures. The slide 20 is shown as supported by a pair of rails 22 in which it is mounted for slidable movement. and from which it may be readily removed or inserted when the closure 14 is removed.

lVithin the compartment 12 I provide a light carrying frame 23 which comprises end shafts 2t and 25 connected by a depending flat stirrup 26 upon which are mounted a plurality of electric light sockets 27 in each "of which is shown an electric light bulb 28. The end shaft 25 is hollow as shown so that wires 29 and 30 may be positioned therein for F supplying electric current to the bulbs 28. The sockets 27 are preferably wired in multiple as shown, but any suitable form of wiring may be employec. The end shaft 25 is supported by the partition 13 and the end shaft 24 is adapted to be supported by the closure it when it is in place. These end shafts 2a and 25 are not intended to rotate in either the partition 13 or the closure 1 f, andto prevent rotation of the shafts and the light carrying frame 23 provide a set screw 31.

Rotatably and removably mounted upon the end shafts 24 and 25 I provide annular end members 32 which include annular flanges 33 upon which a cylindrical frame 34: is removably mounted. As shown this cylindrical frame 34 includes end collars 35 positioned on the flanges of the end members 32 and it connected together by a plurality of longitudinally extending wires 36 upon which, and secured thereto, is a spirally wound wire 37. Instead of the wires 36 and 37 I may employ wire mesh such as rabbit wire. Over the frame 34: I position a color producing cylinder 38 which is shown as comprising a plurality of variously colored in dependent translucent strips 39 and a0 which may comprise celluloid or similar material I preferably spirally wound upon the frame 34. The

. strips 39 and 40 may be spirally wound upon the frame 34 in engagement as shown or they may be positioned on the frame in any desired manner to produce the required color effect. 7

Instead of the color cylinder 38 being composed of a plurality of independent strips 39 and 40 as shown it may be made in one or more pieces and have the various colors applied thereto in any desired shape.

For rotating the wireframe. 34 and the color cylinder 38 I provide a motor which may be a spring motor or an electric motor 42 which is positioned in the compartment 13 I and which preferably has a pinion 43 on the armature shaft which engages a composition disc 44' secured to the end member 32 adjacent the partition 13*:

7 stance 52 applied over the material 51.

,course it will be understood that the symbols may be opaqueand the background translucent if desired, or that some of the symbols The motor 42 is shown as mounted upon a base plate 45 which is pivoted as at 46 to the bottom of the casing 11. A coiled spring 47 secured to an upstanding arm 48 on the base and anchored'to an outstruck lip on the partition 13- is adapted to resiliently retain the the cylinder 38.

' The slide 20 is preferably made of an unbreakable materialsuch as shown in Figs. 5

and 6 which comprises a body of wire mesh 50 covered with a. transparent gelatinous or glass-like material 51 applied-thereto so that the spaces between the wire mesh 50 are completely filled with the, gelatinous material.

To'define the symbols 21 I have shown the .portion' of the slide which comprises the background as having'a coating of opaque submay be translucent and some opaque dependng entirely upon the design of the sign being displayed. Various figures to produce effects simulating a burning building may be worked out with the sign to suit the usesto which it is put.

. also prefer at times to construct the translucent color cylinder 38 of the same unbreakable material as the slide 20 but it will be understood that the particular material of which both the slide 20 and the cylinder 38 are made maybe changed to meet various requirements without aflecting the scope of the appended claims. r

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An advertising device comprising a casing, a transverse partition, said transverse partition forming a light COIllPill'tll'lQllt and a motor compartment in said casing, an aperture in the front *all of said light compartment, said aperture being closed by a translucent plate, a readily removable closure at one end of said light compartment, a light frame in said light compartment, said light frame including end shafts, a plurality of electric light sockets on said frame, one of said light frame end shafts being supported by said removable closure of said light compartment and the other of said end shafts being supported by said transverse partition and projecting tlierethrough, said last mentioned end shaft being hollow for the passage therethrough of electric light wires, a member rotatably mounted upon each of said end. shafts, each of said members including an annular flange, a cylindrical frame having its ends fitted on said annular flanges, a translucent cylinder on said frame, said cylinder including colored portions.

2. In an advertising device a casing liavin an aperture in the front wall, said aperture being closed by a translucent plate, a readily removable closure at one end of said casing, a light frame in said casing, said light frame including end shafts, a plurality of lamp sockets on said frame, one of said light frame end shafts being supported by said removable closure of said casing and the other of said end shafts beingsupportcd in said casing, a member rotatably mounted upon each of said end shafts, each of said members in cluding an annular flange, a cylindrical frame on said members, said cylindrical frame including end collars adapted to it over said annular flanges, means connecting said end collars, a. translucent cylinder on said means, said cylinder comprising a plurality of colored strips and a motor in said casing to rotate said cylindrical frame.

3. In an advertising device, a casing, a stationary light frame in said casing, spaced members rotatably mounted on said light frame, each of said members including an annular flange, a cylindrical wire frame, said cylindrical frame including end collars engaging said annular flanges of said members and a translucent cylinder comprising a plurality of colored strips fitted on said cylindrical wire frame.

4. An advertising device comprising a casing, a light compartment in said casing, an aperture in the front wall of said light compartment, a light retarding plate covering said aperture, a light supporting frame in said light compartment, plurality of electric light sockets supported by said light frame, a supporting cylindrical member mounted to rotate about said light frame,

signature.

FRED P. WILSON. 

